Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-07

Our scheme of taxation, by means of which
this needless surplus is taken from the people and
put into the public treasury, consists of a tariff
or duty levied upon importations from abroad,
and internal revenue taxes levied upon the con-
sumption OF tobacco and spirituous and malt
liquors. 1t must be conceded that none of the
things subjected to
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXATION
are strictly speaking necessares; there appears
to be no just complaint of this taxation by the
consumers of these articles, and there seems to
be nothing so well able to bear the burden with
out hardship to any portion of the people. But
our present tariff laws the vicious, inequ1table
and illogical source of unnecessary taxation,
ought to be at once revised and amended. These
laws, as their primary and plain effect, raise the
price to consumers of all articles imported ana
subject to duty by precisely the sum paid 1or
such duties. Thus the agent of the duty
measures the tax paid by those who purchase fer
use these imported articles. Many OF these
things, however are raised or manufactured m
our own country. and the duties now levied
upon foreign goods and products are called pro-
lection to these home manufactures, because
they render 1t possible for those OF our people
VINO are manufacturers, to make these taxed
articles and sell them for price equal to that
demanded for the imported goods that nave
paid customs duty. So it happens that Wh1ie
millions of our people, who never use ana
never saw any Of the foreign products purchase
and use things of the same kind made in this
country, and pay there or nearly or quite the
same enhanced price which the duty adds to the
imported articles. Those who buy imports pay
the duty charged thereon into the public treas
ury, but the great majority of our citizens, VINO
buy domestic articles of the same class pay
sum at least approximately equal to this duty TO
the home manufacturer. This reference TO the
operation of our tariff laws is not made by way
of instruction, but IN order that we may be con-
stantly reminded of the manner in which they
impose burden upon those who consume
domestic products as well as those who consume
imported articles, ana thus create tax upon all
our people.
1t is not proposed to entirely relieve the coun-
try of this taxation. 1t must be extensively
continued as the source of the governments in
come; and in a readjustment of our tariff the
interests of American LABOR engaged in manufac-
ture should be carefully considered, as well as
the PRESERVATION of our manufactures. 1t may be
called protection, or by any other name but re-
lief from the hardshipS and
DANGERS OF OUR PRESENT TARIFF
laws should be devised with especial precautiOn
against importing the existence of our mauutac
turing interests. But this existence should not
mean condition which without regard to the
public welfare or q national exigency, must
always insure the realization of immense profits
instead of moderately profitable returns. As the
volume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation of the adj
vantages which they conce We the present system
of tariff taxation directly affords them So
the present condition been resisted by
those of our fellow citiZens thus engaged, that
they can hardly complain of the suspicion en-
tertaiued to certain extent, thatthe exists an
organized combination all along the line to
maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst OF centennial celebrations,
and with becoming pride we rejoice in American
skill and ingenuity, in American energy and en-
terprise, and in the wonderful natural advan-
tages and resources developed b. century's
national growth. Yet when an attempt is made
to Justify scheme which permits a tax to be
laid upon every consumer in the land for the
benefit of our manufacturers quite beyond g.
reasonable demand for governmental regard, 1t
suits the purposes of advocacy to can our man
ufactureS infant Industries, still needing the
highest and greatest degree of favor and foster
ing care that can be wrung from federal legisa-
ton.
1t is also said that the increase in the price Of
domestic manufactures, resulting from the pres
ent tariff, is necessary in order that higher wages
may be paid to our workiDgmen employed in
manufactures, than are paia Tor what is called
the pauper labor of Europe. All will acknowl-
edge the lorce of an argument which involves
the welfare and liberal compensation of our la
boring people. All
LABOR is HONORABLE
in the eyes of every American citizen and as 1t
lies at the foundation of our development and
progress, 1t is entitled, without afectation or hy-
pocrisy, to the utmost regard. The standard of
our laporers' life should not be measured by that
OF any other country less favored, and they
entitled to their ull share of all our advantages.
By our last census it is made to appear that of
the 17,392O99 of our population engaged in sill
kinds OF industries, T670,493 are employed in
agriculture 4,074 23S III professions al and person
al service, e. 934 $40 OF whom are domestic serv-
autS and laborers) while $50 are employed
classed as employed in manufacturing and min
ing. For present purposes. however, the last num-
Der given should be considerably reduCed. With
out attempting to enumerate, it will be conceded
that there should be deducted from those which
ltlncludes S75 143 carpenters and Oiners 2S5, 401
mlll1ners, dreSslnakers and seamsIresseS; 1882
blachs niths, 1873, I56 tailors 102,473 masons To-
241 butchers II 1909 bakers, % 0S3 plasterers and
89l engaged.in manufacturing agricultural inn
ements, amounting in the aggregate to l,24, 025,
leaving 1923 $50 persons employed in such manu-
he
fted by high tariff.
To these the appeal is made TO save their en-
ployment and maintain their wages by resisting
a change. There should be no disl osition to an
swer such suggestions by the allegation that
they are in minority among those who labor,
ana therefore should forego an advantage. in
the interest OF low prices tOT the majority; their
compensation, as may be aft cted by
THE OPERATION OF TAFIFF LAWS,
should at all times be scrupuiously kept in
view; and yet with slight reflection they will not
overlook the fact that they are consumers with
the rest that they, too, have their own wants aud
those of their families to supply from their
earnings, and that the price OF the necessaries
OF life, as well as the amount Of their wages will
regulate the measure of their welfare and COM
fort.
But the reduction of taxation demanded
should be so measured as not to necessitate or
justify either the loss of employment by the
Worklngman nor the lessening of his wages; and
the profits still remaining to the manufacturer af-
ter. a ne cessaIy readjustment, should furnish no
excuse Tor the sacrifice of the interests of his en-
plOyeS either In their opportunity to work or in
the dlminution other compensation Nor can
the worker in manufactures fail 10 understand
that while a high tariff is claimed to be necessary
to allow the payment of remunera i've wages il
certainly results i'll very large increase in the
price OF nearly all sorts of manufactures which
in almost countless forms he needs for the use of
himself and his family. He receives at the desk
OF his employer his wages. and perhaps before
he reaches his hon e, is obliged, in q purchase
for family use OF an article which embraces his
own labor. to return in the payment of the in
ease in price which the tariff permits the hard
earned compensation of many days of toll
The farmer and the agriculturist who manu-
factuTe nothing. but who pay the increased
price which the tariff imposes upon every agr-
cultural Implement, upon all he wears and upon
all he us and owns. except the increase of his
docks and herds and such things as his hus-
bandry produces from the soil, is invited to aid
in maintaining the present situation and he is
told that hlgn duty on imported wool is neces-
saTy Tor the benefit OF those who have sheep to
shear in order that the price of their wool NAV
be increased. They, of course, are not reminded
that the farmer who has no sheep is by this
scheme obliged, in his purchases OF clothing and
wooden goods
TO PAY A TRIBUTE
to his fellow farmer as well as to the manufect-
urer and merchant nor is any mention made of
the act that that the sheep-owners themselves
and their households, must wear clothing and
U.s. other articles manufactu; ed from the wool
they Sell at tariff prices, and thus as consumers
must return their share OF this increased price to
the trade man.
81, l. L. & u